A September 11th Memory from Cyprus

September 11th, one year ago today, I was in the picturesque mountain village of Kakopetria, Cyprus. We were holding leadership development meetings with Interserve Field leadership, the organization for which I was at that time the International Director. The earliest copper smelting sites anywhere in the world can be found near Kakopetria. Cyprus, whose name comes from the word "copper" was the first source of this metal for the ancient world. Also two of the oldest existing churches in Christendom are in that little mountain village.

Yet the village's name means "Evil Rock". Tradition has it that the large rock, now firmly cemented in place in the lower part of the village, had rolled over killing a couple on their wedding day. Kakopetria is not named for its churches or unique contribution to bronze tools in the ancient world, but instead for the event that killed this young couple. What a terrible legacy for such a pretty village.

I will never be able to think of Kakopetria again without the image of the events of 9/11 seared on my mind. Because it was in this peaceful village that my colleagues and I watched on live TV as the World Trade Towers collapsed. I will remember Kakopetria, through no fault of its own, as a place of bad news.

All over the world there are similar memories and associations. Images of people and places, sounds, smells and even tastes have been forever scarred by this traumatic event. Can they ever be redeemed? Or are they doomed to bear a name like Kakopetria throughout history?

In answer to that I have another memory. The Sunday following 9/11 we traveled even higher into the Troodos Mountains to a small Anglican Church, St. George's, which is used only very occasionally. We had permission (and the key!) from the Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf to hold a service there. We swept the debris off the walk, and the bat droppings out of the church itself. We dusted the pews, found the communion cup and plate and we held a communion service. Each person of the 30 or so there was going back to exercise leadership in an uncertain future. The memory of worship, prayer and God ministering is one that is even stronger than the awful events of that terrorist attack a few days earlier.

Yes, God can redeem even the very worst of events. May this one-year memorial become a redeeming memory for you. May there be a knowledge of forgiveness and God's redemption that overlays that memory of 9/11. And may that memory be forever precious to you.

Jim Tebbe
Director for Urbana 03

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